ABOUT FACE: Lisa Ballstaedt & Kayla Bertagna of Soon Skincare
Our new beauty series ABOUT FACE highlights the skincare and makeup routines of women we adore and admire, from their daily skincare rituals to their beauty favorites to the products, tips, and tricks they swear by. Follow along as we take a peek inside their bathroom cabinets and cosmetic bags.
Photo: Lisa Ballstaedt and Kayla Bertagna, co-founders of Soon Skincare.
For the newest installment of our ABOUT FACE series, we’re chatting with the co-founders of Soon Skincare: Lisa Ballstaedt and Kayla Bertagna. We first fell in love with Soon via their popular lip masks, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their lineup of amazing Korean skincare products. Below, read more about Lisa and Kayla, their inspiration for launching Soon, and the scoop on their daily skincare routines, makeup must-haves, and beauty advice!
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Photo: Soon Skincare
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELVES—WHAT ARE YOUR BACKGROUNDS AND HOW DID YOUR PATHS FIRST CROSS?
Kayla: I started my career in Washington D.C. as a financial operations manager for a government contracting firm. After my husband decided to leave the private sector for the federal government in Las Vegas, I joined a payroll company in Vegas as a financial advisor. Once my husband returned to the private sector—this time in California—I decided to start my own consulting firm so I could serve my clients no matter where we lived. I spent the next 10 years providing a variety of financial and accounting services to clients.
Lisa: I worked in the fashion industry as a wardrobe stylist and writer, and then did PR and social media for a model management company and a few other fashion companies. We met through a mutual friend shortly after Kayla moved to Southern California, near where I was already living. We all went to Sprinkles Ice Cream to meet up for a treat; we hit it off and have been friends ever since. We should have met before because we were at the same university, living in the same place, and had mutual friends, but our paths didn't cross until that point.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR SOON AND WHEN DID YOU LAUNCH?
Kayla & Lisa: The idea for Soon came about after Kayla bought Korean beauty masks to give to friends on a girls’ trip to Puerto Vallarta. We tried the masks but we had a lot of questions about them, and we wanted to find a way to make the user experience better for women everywhere. After hours of measuring each other’s faces, countless trips to Korea to meet with skincare chemists, and countless nights testing products, we launched Soon in October of 2018.
WHAT MAKES SOON DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SKINCARE BRANDS?
Kayla & Lisa: Where do we start! Everything from the ingredient formulations of each product to the unique shapes of our masks to the various product applications are unique to Soon. We are consumers and skincare lovers, so with every product we develop we think about what we need from a product and how we can create them so our customers have the best possible experience with them. We are committed to using ingredients that have proven results, are safe to use, and will help users get their best skin.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SOON PRODUCT OR PRODUCT YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF?
Kayla: Because of all the research and work that goes into each product it is hard to pick a favorite. I love our Biocellulose Face Masks and how unique they are. We spent so much time getting the shape just right and making sure that our masks would give results people would see, and they do! Our Mermaid Collagen Serum is another favorite of mine because of the results it gives.
Lisa: We always joke that this is like asking us to pick a favorite child! I would say lately my favorite product is our Pomegranate Hydrogel Eye Patches with Collagen. I keep the jar in my fridge and they are an instant pick me up. When I look tired you can see it under my eyes for sure, and these help with any inflammation, and they also help with fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Also, they feel so cooling and refreshing when you put them on so they’re a nice way to treat myself.
WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT A.M. SKINCARE ROUTINE?
Kayla: I start my routine by washing my face with our Korean wash mitt. I have found that slightly exfoliating my skin everyday is more beneficial than deep exfoliating a couple times a week. I love to throw on a pair of eye patches and follow with a toner or a vitamin packed essence. I then apply Finacea—which I use to manage my rosacea—and then apply my chemical sunscreen. Because skin cancer runs in my family, I'm very particular about my sunscreen protection.
Lisa: We are always testing out products that we have in development, so right now I’m trying out a new cleansing balm followed by an eye cream, our Mermaid Collagen Serum, Camellia Leaf Cream (we're almost done with this one!), and then I top it off with sunscreen (ALWAYS!).
WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT P.M. SKINCARE ROUTINE?
Kayla: I first use a very gentle cleanser to remove any makeup, which I do with our makeup removal cloths, especially because they are so gentle on my skin and effective at preserving my eyelashes when removing my mascara. I then use our exfoliating mitt to wash my face with the same gentle cleanser. I lightly use the exfoliating mitt in a circular motion, which helps keep my skin clear of blemishes. I then do a quick and short wash with my Clarisonic face brush to ensure that all my pores are clean. I then apply my toner and depending on the day I will use one of our masks (I like to mask three times a week), and then I add a special cream to my eyes and my rotating serum to my face. I rotate between our Mermaid Collagen Serum, Vitamin C serum, and Niacinamide/VitaminB+ Serum. As a final step, I sometimes finish with a tretinoin product.
Lisa: I have a love/hate relationship with washing my face at night; I hate doing it, but love it when it's done. I start with our makeup removing cloths, and then wash my face. After that I love exfoliating with our mitt, and I’ve worked up to doing that almost daily. Lately I've followed that up with a new serum and cream we're testing, and I have been loving it. Oh, and always eye cream at night as well.
FAVORITE FACE MASK?
Kayla: Our Brightening Biocellulose Mask.
Lisa: I love our Micro-Hole Hydrogel Hydrating Mask. I usually use it when I feel like my skin needs a pick-me-up and it never fails to deliver a dewy glow after.
ANY FAVORITE SKINCARE TREATMENTS?
Kayla: I love facials from the only facialist I see regularly: Julie Foo. She cleans every pore and can give anyone the best skin of their life.
Lisa: I love a good facial with extractions! You leave feeling great and looking a little scary, but there is something so satisfying about it. Also, the smooth feeling of skin after getting dermaplaning done is pretty awesome.
THE SKINCARE OR MAKEUP BRAND YOU’RE CURRENTLY CRUSHING ON?
Kayla: I really like Charlotte Tilbury. I love their Light Wonder Foundation.
Lisa: I feel like I will have a lifetime brand crush on Bobbi Brown. When I was a teen, her book “Teenage Beauty” was my introduction to makeup, but she snuck so much more in there about being confident in your own skin which is amazing. Also, for work a few years ago I was backstage at a fashion show (Marchesa during NYFW), and I watched her demonstrating to her team how to do the makeup look for the show and I was mesmerized. I wear a few different brands of makeup but there's always some Bobbi Brown in my bag.
FAVORITE OR CURRENT MASCARA?
Kayla: I swear by Diorshow Iconic Overcurl.
Lisa: Kayla turned me onto Diorshow mascara, and I love it. I've tried SO many different mascaras and this is definitely my favorite.
GO-TO LIP GLOSS, LIPSTICK, OR LIP TINT?
Kayla: I am obsessed with Dior Lip Glow and have been for a long time.
Lisa: Lately I've been putting on a layer of Aquaphor or whatever lip balm I have laying around and then layering a Stila Convertible Color over it. It gives the perfect hint of color.
WHAT DO YOU WEAR ON YOUR SKIN ON THE DAILY?
Kayla: The only thing I wear daily is sunscreen.
Lisa: Usually a tinted sunscreen, some concealer on a couple of dark spots, and a little bit of cream blush. If I'm "getting ready" for the day, I'll swap out the tinted sunscreen for a lightweight foundation. Lately I've been using Chanel Vitalumière Aqua and I love how it doesn't feel heavy.
TO CONTOUR OR NOT TO CONTOUR?
Kayla: Depends on the day and what I'm doing.
Lisa: I definitely see the benefit in contouring, but I usually don't have the time or energy to do it. My everyday makeup is pretty minimal.
CURRENT BROW SITUATION?
Kayla: I've been obsessed with eyebrows ever since one of my besties made my first appointment with the brand new and amazing Anastasia Brows when I was in college.
Lisa: Let's just say I'm dying to get my brows waxed when things start opening up again!
FOR A NIGHT OUT: BOLD LIP OR BOLD EYE?
Kayla: I usually focus on my eyes.
Lisa: I love a bold lip. I don't do it very often, but every time I do I feel like I have a "look" going on, and should do it more!
WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT?
Kayla: I love Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette.
Lisa: Lately it's Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt. I got it from my friend's shop, Koo De Ker, and I love it.
ANY BELOVED BEAUTY TOOLS?
Kayla: My Clarisonic Face Brush.
Lisa: Eyelash curler! I have very straight lashes that also aren't very long so I need all the lash help I can get!
FAVORITE BEAUTY TIPS OR TRICKS?
Kayla: I'm a big believer in exfoliating. Anyone using any type of tretinoin should be exfoliating regularly to make sure their pores don't get clogged with dead skin. I also think everyone should have sunscreen with them everywhere they go. I have it in my house, my car, my garage, where I workout, and in my purse. It is also SO important to reapply during the day. Make sure to cover the neck, chest, hands, and arms. Every single day!
Lisa: I love to wet an eyeliner brush and use it with eye shadow to do my eyeliner. It gives you a more precise line than a dry brush, but it’s much more forgiving than using liquid liner.
BEST BEAUTY ADVICE YOU’VE HEARD OR THE BEAUTY MANTRA YOU LIVE BY?
Kayla: “Making nice expressions will also give you a nice face.” –My Mom. Also, if you find something that works and it is giving you results, just stick with it.
Lisa: Consistency is the key! Like all good things you have to put the effort into it to get the results, and it's definitely worth it.
WHO’S YOUR BEAUTY ICON AND WHY?
Kayla: My older sister, Katrice—she taught me everything I knew until I was able to educate myself and develop my own routines.
Lisa: The past few years it has been Gemma Chan! Her style, her gorgeous skin, and even her hair styles are just so good!